Convertible ladder apron



S. LERNER CONVERTIBLE LADDER APRON Oct. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 28, 1962 INVENTOR 58M LEENEE BY I 1 L I m1 HI I I llllllllllllilllll Oct. 15, 1963 s. VLYERNER 3,106,987

CONVERTIBLE LADDER APRON Filed June 28, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l m I! FI --1 -za i 7Z 73 INVEN TOR SAM LERNEE BY United States Patent 3,106,987CON VERLE LADDER APRON Sam Lerner, 3636 Greystone Ave, Bronx 48, N51.Filed June 23, 1962, Ser. No. 206,060 2 Claims. (Cl. 182-126) Theinvention relates to stepladder attachments, and, more especially, withrespect to an associated apron member such as will be useful insupporting temporarily, and in convenient reach, various operating andother items utilized in the painting operations-i01- example, paint andpaint brushes, as well as scrapers and the like. Or, as in the case ofbuilding operations and the like, such a novel apron assembly may beutilized for support, with convenient accessibility, of correspondingtools and materials.

That is to say, the novel attachment will readily render the ladderconvertible, i.e., more useful-as in saving a user thereof many steps,as well as the climb of and descent therefrom to obtain a desired item.

Moreover, in accordance with the invention, said operating,generally-required items are to be supported in a manner such as to beconveniently accessible to a user thereof. Thus, they may be supportedon a level surface portion of the apron, or confined therein positivelyagainst dislodgement-the novel attachment being located in associationwith the conventional apron or shelf of the :ttepladder.

In the use of the conventional type of ladder apron in this respect, noprovision has heretofore been made for the fioresaid temporary directand secure, non-displaceable storage of paint containers and/or brushes,as well as of presenting readily a continuous and level top supportingsurface when such a surface is required.

The invention has for an object so to modify such conventional,apron-structure stepladdersmore especially with respect to the apronportion-that the latter may receive and support directly, and withoutdanger of displacement various items as may be required by a workmanduring the period he is operating from the aforesaid ladder; and, aswell, to afiord temporary storage and ample space on the apron for thesaid various items generally utilized in operations performed from saidladder.

Thus, contrary to the general practice of providing merely a continuous,stationary and flat-top surface for the working (supporting) portion ofthe apron upon which materials such as paint cans, brushes, etc.commonly are supported-and accordingly easily disturbed and upset-thepresent invention contemplates a novel support-apron structure. That isto say, the support surface thereof is so designed that not only mayobjectionable displacements, as aforesaid, be obviated-in that adepression or pocket for various items is afiorded as for the materialsand tools; but, when desired, such apron is readily convertible topresent a complete conventional, flat-top surface.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stepladder in extended state, With thenovel supporting apron in operative location-a supported, associatedcontainer being indicated in broken lines.

3,106,987 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary verticalsection thereofon an enlarged scale, and taken on the line 22, FIG. 1 ofthe drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows.

vPIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view-on an enlarged some, and with aportion of the retainer cover broken awayof th apron platform and asupported container.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the novel apron construction, taken onthe line 4-4, FIG. 3 of the drawings; and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, illustrating thebottom of the cover plate indicated in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, aconventional form of stepladder is indicated-- the same beingconstituted of pairs of elongated rails 10, 1d, the forward pair 10being joined together by the steps 11, as is well understood. An upperterminal or rectangular top 12 unites then the said pairs of railsthrough intermediate angle pieces 11'. Also, an apron 13 is pivotallyassociated therewith in conventional manner and immediately below, forexample, the plane of the uppermost step. Furthermore, said apron memberis pivoted to the rear rails 10, and thus, extended, lies in a planewhich is located immediately below the uppermost step of steps11substantially as in the present practice.

However, the said apron member, in accordance with the invention, isprovided with an outer depressed portion 14 which is designed toaccommodate securely various items, for use when the said ladder is inservice, such as the can 14'indicated in broken linesas well as otheritems, as may be required.

A circumferential ledge, at the rim 15 of the depressed portion 14, isdesigned to seat flush with the said rim a cover :16 when the apron isto present a level top surface, as is indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Acircumferential notch 17, furthermore, is provided in the said coverwhereby to facilitate its removal. The said apron surface otherwise islevel and uninterrupted throughout for support. Furthermore, thedepressed portion may be of any desired shape-the said cover then beingshaped correspondingly thereto.

Moreover, when the said cover is not desired as a supporting surface, itmay conveniently be stored in association with the apron. Thus,reference being had to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings, said cover onits underfa'ce 19 is to this to be provided initially, for example, witha spot of a pressure type, permanent adhesive deposit 18; and whereby itmay be attachedwhen not in use-4o the outer surface of the saiddepressed portion 14, as is indicated in broken lines, FIG. 4 of thedrawings.

Or, reference being had to FIG. 2 of the drawings, an arcuate beading orledge 20, preferably at its bottom portion may be provided; and to thisend is dimensioned to afiord an under pocket or supporting ledge 21suitable to accommodate temporarily the said cover 16 (not shown) whenit is removed temporarily.

I claim:

1. The combination with a foldable-type stepladder provided with anapron member swingably attached thereto and adapted to be located toproject rearwardly therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane, saidapron member at its outer portion being provided with an integraldepressed section affording a pocket, when the said step ladder isextended for service, for the accommodation and porting ledge displaceddownwardly from the bottom of support of articles for use; and a coverplate adapted for the depressed portion.

seating in the pocket such that its upper surface will lie Isubstantially flush with the top of the apron member; of ReferencesCited 111 the file 0f ihls Patent an arcuated, under pocket meansassociated with the bot- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tom of the depressedsection beneath the same for receiving and retaining removably the coverplate when the g8 latter 1s not seated at the top of said depressedSCCLIOH. 7 1,049,682 Davis Jan. 7, 1913 2. The combination according toclaim ,1, wherein the under arcuated support means comprises an annularsup- 1() 2861385 Chllds 1958

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A FOLDABLE-TYPE STEPLADDER PROVIDED WITH ANAPRON MEMBER SWINGABLY ATTACHED THERETO AND ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED TOPROJECT REARWARDLY THEREFROM IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE, SAIDAPRON MEMBER AT ITS OUTER PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INTEGRALDEPRESSED SECTION AFFORDING A POCKET, WHEN THE SAID STEPLADDER ISEXTENDED FOR SERVICE, FOR THE ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORT OF ARTICLES FORUSE; AND A COVER PLATE ADAPTED FOR SEATING IN THE POCKET SUCH THAT ITSUPPER SURFACE WILL LIE SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE TOP OF THE APRONMEMBER; OF AN ARCUATED, UNDER POCKET MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOTTOM OFTHE DEPRESSED SECTION BENEATH THE SAME FOR RECEIVING AND RETAININGREMOVABLY THE COVER PLATE WHEN THE LATTER IS NOT SEATED AT THE TOP OFSAID DEPRESSED SECTION.